The Sound Track of my Life

On Stephenie Meyer's website, she lists all the music she was listening to while writing her books. Most of the stuff I had never heard of. It did get me thinking about the music of my life. You know, the songs that bring a flood of memories when you hear them. My cousins will forever tease me about the song "I am a rock" by Simon and Garfunkel. Apparently when I was eight, I drove them all crazy by playing the song over and over in the car. I vaguely remember the incident. I think of my older brothers when I hear "Oh what a night" because it came on the radio once while we were driving home from one of our dutch oven breakfast in the canyon. They both started singing along and basically jamming out to it. REO Speedwagon, Erasure, 10,000 Manics, the sound track to Newsies and Aladdin bring memories of my sister. I will always think of Taylor when I hear a Dave Matthews band song on the radio. It drove me crazy that he blared DMB while he was in the shower. They Might be Giants makes me think of a couple of neighbor boys who would come hang out with my family on Sundays. We would sit in the basement and hold our very own concerts featuring songs from the John Henrie album. Maybe we would go for a midnight Taco Bell run after, if we didn't have school the next day. There are too many songs and memories to write about them all. Good times, good times.

What songs are on your life's sound track?

I have a confession to make.

My 100 things about me was not my 100th post. It was my 99th. I'm such a liar.

Personal Space

I believe that giving people proper personal space is an important social skill. One that I value greatly. However, it is a skill that most children at the Gardner swimming pool lack. This doesn't bother me if the child is like 5 or younger, most kids this age are pretty oblivious. But when the kid is like 9 or 10, it really bothers me. They don't watch were they are going, they kick you, they practically jump in my lap sometimes. I was supper annoyed the other day by a girl who must have been 11. I was sitting on a little bench on the inside of the pool. The water depth was like 2 1/2 feet. This girl, who was bigger than me, by the way, pulled up to the wall RIGHT next to me and proceeded to do these stupid little back dives and kicks, splashing me in the face EVERY time. Little kids were playing all around her. She kicked more than one of them without so much as an acknowledgement. I so badly wanted to say to her, "For someone who is so big, you are oblivious to how your movements affect everyone around you." But I didn't. That would have been rude. But I was sure thinking it.

But, you know, I have an issue with personal space anyway. Mostly it manifests itself when people hug me. I tense up and the person hugging me can feel it, this has caused problems with my sister-in-laws. One of them accused me of thinking I was too good for her, that I didn't want to touch her. She didn't realize that this started way before I met her or my husband. It has taken me a long time to be comfortable hugging anyone, and by anyone, I really don't mean anyone. I mean my parents, my extended family, close friends. That is were my list ends. And in some cases it's still an effort to not feel weird.

My bbf's mother, Carolyn, noticed right off the bat that I had a hard time hugging. She went out of her way to give me big, huge, lingering hugs. Sometimes I would fight it, but she never let me go. After many months of this, I finally was able to accept and actually give a hug back that wasn't completely awkward. I'm sure it's not true, but Carolyn insisted that I wasn't given enough hugs and kisses when I was a baby.

But really, it not just hugging, it's just touching in general. I'm sorry, but I just don't want people to touch me. Give me some room! Is that so much to ask?

Hey! What's going on?

Well....Let me tell you!

My camera got stolen. I feel naked. I feel I have nothing to post about without it. I need to replace it but can't bring myself to charge it. What to do, what to do....

My husband applied to the community college last week. He was accepted. THEN, he told his Grandpa/employer what his plans were. Whoa! I think he's serious this time. I feel the big changes a comin.

Last week, after attending church with my parents, my husband declared he was going to church the next week. I told him that was a big declaration and that I was not going to forget if he didn't do it. Well, we made it to church yesterday. I know, two weeks in a row. Will miracles ever cease? But truth be told, I had a hard time. As we walked across the lawn, I began to feel something in my chest. Suddenly, I wanted to glare at everyone, which by the way, makes you pretty unapproachable. I didn't want to sing. I rolled my eyes at the guy who went ten minutes over in sacrament meeting. I made fun of the brother who couldn't stop crying while singing in Sunday school. I ditched Relief Society and read my book in the car. I was reminded that I have a rebellious heart. Maybe I shouldn't blame the not going to church all on my husband. Obviously, I need to work on some things too. Like my attitude!

The new Tinkerbell shoes have arrived! They are beautiful. But now I am sad because I cannot take a picture to show you. Another time maybe?

I finished the third Fablehaven book and it was the best one so far! I loved it. Now I have to wait till next spring for the next one to come out. Now I am re-reading the Twilight series in preparation for Breaking Dawn to be released soon. I missed so much the first time through. Now I am really excited for the movie two. I have the urge to watch Goblet of Fire so I can crush on Edward for a little while. I think most of you already know, but I LOVE and very much approve of the actor they picked for Edward.

Smashed Penny Kindness

My friend Emily got back from a trip a few weeks ago. She sent me two smashed pennies! What an awesome friend! She smashed the pennies in Forks, Washington. Isn't that awesome? When I was in Utah, my sister celebrated her anniversary in SLC and she returned with a smashed penny for me from the Planetarium. Very cool.

Also, an honorable mention goes to my BFF Val, who just returned from NYC a few weeks ago. She said, "I only saw one stupid penny machine and the god damn thing was broken, so sorry!" Well, you were looking and that's good enough for me.

See? It doesn't take very much to make me happy. Unless your name starts with a J and ends with an N. If that's case, you are just out of luck. Sorry.

Secret Blog?

My husband has been saying things that make me think he may know about my blog. I'm a little confused by it all. He won't come right out and say he knows, and I won't come right out and say that I have one.

The other night he started telling me what my blog would be like if I had a blog. He told me it would be a pretty intelligent blog. He said I would write about my authors and music and about anything that happened. So that freaked me out because I have blogged about both those things very recently. I told him it sounded like he had my non-existent blog all designed in his head for me.

So, if my husband knows about my blog and reads it when I am not around, maybe he could tell me by secret code. He should say "Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers while she sells seashells by the seashore." Then I will know he knows without either one of us having to say so.

Sugar and Spice

Today is my daughter's birthday. She turns six today. I know I talk about my daughter on here way more than I talk about my son. She really is a special girl. Her smile and laugh is contagious. She is not one bit shy and makes friends everywhere we go. She has a pair of Tinkerbell dress up shoes. They are a size 9. Her feet are size 11, but she still prances around in those shoes. ( I found some bigger ones just this morning on eBay! Hallelujah!) She wears them to school, the store, vacation, the park. They are dirty and the fabric is starting to come off at the toe. I look at those shoes and think about how much she must love those shoes, and all the dancing, twirls, and jumping she has done while wearing these shoes. Then I think about how much I love those shoes too. I am going to keep them forever. As soon as the new shoes arrive, I will take those old Tinkerbell shoes and put them away so when I am old and miss my kids, I can pull them out and remember how sweet, precious, and full of life my little fairy was when she was little. I hope she never changes.

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl! I am so proud of you!